SAN DIEGO – Austin Warren has become a staple in the Mets bullpen because of his versatility and success, but Saturday night brought his most dramatic intensity this season.
Given a one-run lead to protect, the right-hander got two quick outs in the seventh inning.
A soft single followed before Warren gave up a two-run homer to Freddy Fermin that capped the loss in a 3-2 loss to the Padres.
The Mets, after two straight victories in which the program has produced, have returned to a normal pattern of silence.
The loss left the Mets needing a win Sunday to get to .500 on the road trip.
Warren’s slump was a surprise for a bullpen that started the day with a 3.19 ERA that ranked third in the National League and fifth in MLB.
The right-hander pitched to a 1.33 ERA, filling a variety of roles, from starter to long relief to high gain.
Nolan McLean recovered from an early pitch count to give the Mets six innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
McLean snapped a streak of three straight starts in which he failed to complete six innings and lowered his ERA to 3.98, exiting after 101 pitches.
Griffin Canning, who played last season for the Mets before undergoing surgery in June for an Achilles injury, offered resistance to his former team.
The right-hander gave up one earned run on three hits and two walks over five innings.
Brett Baty’s RBI single in the second gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.
Marcus Semien walked and AJ Ewing singled to start the rally before Baty delivered his 25th RBI of the season.
It was a welcome contribution from Baty following his 3-for-16 (.188) start on the road trip.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit an RBI single in the third in a 1-1 tie.
McLean caused trouble by walking Sung-Mun Song leading off the inning.
After Song took second, Tatis fired to second base and deflected past Semien for the run.
McLean walked Ty France with two outs, but escaped by striking out Manny Machado.
Still, McLean ran his tally to 62 by the end of the inning.
Semien singled in the fourth before being thrown out trying to steal second base.
Ewing followed with a walk before Canning struck out Mark Vientos to end the inning.
The single was singled in the lead off of the fifth and went to third following a sacrifice bunt and Tatis’ infield single.
With two outs, the Padres attempted a double steal – with Song breaking the plate late.
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Luis Torrens threw to second base and caught the ball, scoring Song with a run, McLean tagging the out.
Semien led off the seventh to give the Mets a 2-1 lead.
The blast was Semien’s seventh of the season.
Semien started the day on an 0-for-14 drought, but hit the spot three times tonight.
Warren got two outs in the seventh before Song singled.
Fermin blasted the first pitch over the left field fence.
Carson Benge and Bo Bichette picked one of the eight.
Juan Soto hit a smash that was caught by Song, and Benge was caught at second to end the inning.
Ewing walked with two outs in the ninth against the fire-throwing Mason Miller before Vientos struck out to end it.
